The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is in the early stages of planning for safer speed limits on Vineyard Road, with residents welcoming the news but calling for further safety improvements.
As reported by Star Weekly, in 2018 VicRoads ruled out installing safety barriers along a stretch of Vineyard Road adjacent to the Diggers Rest Early Learning Centre.
Residents have continued to call for these barriers to be installed along with speed limit reductions on Vineyard Road.
A DTP spokesperson confirmed the department is currently in the early stages of planning and development for the introduction of safer speeds on Vineyard Road.
Diggers Rest resident David O’Connor welcomed this update.
“These are baby steps leading to better safety outcomes for our community,” Mr O’Connor said.
Resident Kate Perkins said she worries about the road “every single day”.
“Every single day my child is in childcare, I think about that road” Ms Perkins said.
She said she would still like to see a concrete safety bollard on Vineyard Road adjacent to the Diggers Rest Early Learning Centre.
“They had installed the bollard on the other side of the road because there are power poles there and it’s a risk to motorists if they come off the road, where there are power poles on that side too – and the childcare centre fence,” Ms Perkins said.
“From a funding perspective, I know for sure that people in the community would fundraise and pay for it out of their own pockets, because that’s how stressed they are about trucks coming off the road,” she said.
Resident Jessica Kidd said she would like to see a permanent speed change introduced to the road.
Star Weekly understands that the department’s project is in the early stages of development – with designs not finalised – and that it intends to keep the community updated as planning progresses.
